Azzurra. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.
by Jill Campbell
Another long day for the teams participating in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalena, Sardinia resulted in no racing for Azzurra, the team representing the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. At 6.45 p.m. approximately, while the fifth race of the day was being held, the Race Committee abandoned racing for the day due to the fading breeze, effectively cancelling all hopes of rounding off the day’s programme with the scheduled match between Azzurra and Emirates Team New Zealand.
As a result of yesterday’s collision between Azzurra and Aleph two of the four ACC version 5 boats chartered by the organization for the event were damaged and the ten competing teams are now alternating aboard the two remaining boats. Nevertheless the race committee, headed by PRO Peter “Luigi” Reggio managed to fit in five of the six scheduled races today. Aleph was given four penalty points, one for ‘hard contact’ (assessed immediately after the incident) and a further three points for breaking RRS 14, the Racing Rule which governs ‘Avoiding Contact’.
In the other races of the day Mascalzone Latino defeated Synergy Russian Sailing Team, Emirates Team New Zealand defeated Synergy Russian Sailing Team by just 4 seconds, BMW Oracle Racing took victory over All4One who then defeated Luna Rossa.
Although some teams have now completed twice as many races as others, the current provisional standings see Sweden’s Artemis, skippered by Paul Cayard, in the lead on four points.
Azzurra's team. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.
Azzurra will meet Emirates Team New Zealand in the first match of the day tomorrow. Racing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. CET and east south-easterly winds of 9-13 knots accompanied by sunshine and temperatures of around 25-26 degrees are forecast with the possibility of showers in the afternoon.
Follow the regattas on www.azzurra.it with Live TV (virtual eye at the moment, live images will be available in the final four days), interviews, press releases and daily comments, photos and video.
PROVISIONAL STANDINGS – ROUND ROBIN
4 points - Artemis, SWE, skipper Paul Cayard (4 races completed)
3 points - All4One, FRA/GER, skipper Jochen Schumann (6 races completed)
2 points - Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, ITA, skipper Gavin Brady (4 races completed)
2 points - Emirates Team New Zealand, NZL, skipper Dean Barker (3 races completed)
2 points - Azzurra, ITA, skipper Francesco Bruni (4 races completed)
2 points - Synergy, RUS, skipper Karol Jablonski (4 races completed)
2 points - TEAMORIGIN, GBR, skipper Ben Ainslie (5 races completed)
1 points - BMW ORACLE Racing, USA, skipper James Spithill (4 races completed)
1 points - Luna Rossa, ITA, skipper Ed Baird (6 races completed)
- 2 points - Aleph, FRA, skipper Bertrand Pacé (4 races completed)
Azzurra Crew List
Francesco Bruni – Skipper/Helmsman
Tommaso Chieffi – Tactician
Luca Albarelli – Mast
Matteo Auguadro – Bowman
Gabriele Bruni – Runner Trimmer
Tom Burnham – Strategist
Michele Cannoni – Pit Assist
Pierluigi De Felice – Spi Trimmer
Daniele De Luca – Mainsail Trimmer
Massimo Galli – Port Grinder
Michele Gnutti – Reserve
Cristian Griggio – Pitman
Giuseppe Leonardi – Reserve
Pietro Mantovani – Mid Bow
Marco Mercuriali – Coach
Nicola Pilastro – Mainsail Grinder
Stefano Rizzi – Genoa Trimmer
Piero Romeo – Runner Grinder
Francesco Scalici – Right Grinder
Gabrio Zandonà – Reserve
Bruno Zirilli – Navigator
Azzurra
Louis Vuitton Trophy
